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Ticks
Symptoms
· Larvae attached to the
skin.
· Anemia.
· Loss of weight.
·
Red spots on the skin where the ticks have fed.
· Birds do not forage actively.
· Birds stay in one place and appear
depressed.
· Birds are uneasy at
night.
· Egg production decreases.
Cause
Ticks bite the birds at night, so they are rarely seen attached to the bird. After the ticks fall off. They breed in cracks in the walls and floor. The adult females lay eggs which hatch quickly in warm weather. Ticks are especially a problem when the temperature is high. They are difficult to eradicate because they do not stay on the bird during the daytime. Ticks can carry spirochetosis disease. They can also attach onto humans and suck the blood.
Lice
Symptoms
· Small, white lice eggs on the
feathers.
· Lice moving on skin and
feathers.
· Reduced egg production.
· Slower weight gain.
· Birds constantly peck at themselves or scratch them
selves with their beaks.
Cause
Poultry are infected by biting (not sucking) lice. Lice, unlike ticks, stay all their lives on the bird's skin. They lay eggs on the feathers. Lice can also bite people but do not stay on humans for long.
Prevention
These methods are used against both ticks and lice.
· Smoke the chicken houses
regularly (see remedies below).
· Fill in
cracks in the walls
· Change the bedding
regularly.
· Clean around the
house.
· Put all waste into a manure pit.
Treatment
· Burn any of the plants listed below near or under the poultry house so the smoke goes into the house. The amount of leaves burned depends on the size of the house. This will drive away lice and ticks. Keep all birds and animals away from the smoke. People should keep away from the smoke, too.
-Dry leaves of Diospyros ebenum. (Central India. 1, 2, 3, 4)-Dry tobacco leaves (do not allow birds to eat tobacco). (Throughout South and Southeast Asia. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
-Powdered bark of Citrus acida. (Thailand. 1, 2, 3, 4)
-Fresh, whole plant of Jasminum sambac. (Philippines. 1, 2, 4)
-Fresh or dry leaves of Premna odorata. (Philippines. 1, 2, 4)
-Fresh or dry leaves of Vitex negundo. (Philippines. 1, 2, 4)
Many women in India prefer to cook using traditional smoky stoves because they say the smoke drives away lice and ticks inside the home.
· Crush and dry fresh leaves of Premna odorata. Put these under the chicken house. This is used to drive away lice. It also kills lice on contact. (Philippines. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
· Hang a bouquet of Vitex negundo, Ocimum sanctum or lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus) in the poultry house. (Throughout South and Southeast Asia. 1, 2, 3, 4)
· Rub any of the remedies listed below on the birds' skin. Use as much as needed to cover the entire skin.
-Fresh or dry tobacco leaves. (Throughout South and Southeast Asia. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
-A mixture of 2 parts neem (leaves or oil), 1 part of salt and 1 part of ash. (Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, India. 1, 2, 3, 4)
-A mixture of 1 part of salt and 2 parts of mustard oil. (Karnataka, India. 1, 2, 3, 4)
-Crushed fresh Vitex negundo leaves. (India. 1, 2, 3, 4)
-Pounded fresh or dried Annona squamosa seeds. (Throughout South and Southeast Asia. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
Mites
Symptoms
· Small, red bumps on the
skin.
· One or more small red mites on the
bumps. (Mites are the size of a pinhead.)
·
Birds are uncomfortable and ruffle their feathers.
· Birds peck themselves.
Cause
Mites suck the blood of birds. They can attack all ages and both sexes. but layers are particurlarly affected. Mites can also bite people, causing irritation and itchiness anywhere on the body.
Prevention and treatment
· Regularly clean poultry houses, especially before hens start to lay.
· Put 1 handful of fresh lemongrass (Cympobogon citratus) in the nest before the hen starts to lay. Leave is there while the hen lays and broods.
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